The Steel Bear of Ala Mhigo

---

Personal History

The Early Years

Born in Gyr Abania in the year 1542 during the sixth astral era. His parents Hildir Bloodfury and Elina Thorne were both respected members of the Ala Mhigan kingdom. Unfortunately Elina would meet her end shortly after birthing their first child due to complications. Hildir, a military officer, would take on raising the child alone. Many in this situation would have had an ill will toward a child who caused the death of their spouse, though Hildir showed none of those signs. In fact, young Berduta and his father were inseparable. The first ten years of his life were spent on education, both of an academic variety as well as martial training. Berduta was a quick study, though he wasn't quick to speak on a question. Instead he seemed to wait and reflect on each new curiosity before voicing what his father liked to call, "Berd's inquistion."
 
All good things must come to an end, however, not long after Berduta's tenth nameday his father was called away by his duties. Though he wasn't part of the inner circle, the child heard rumors that King Theoderic was attempt to rid of kingdom of the Fists of Rhalgr monks. At the time he wasn't sure if this was a rumor or truth, but one thing he knew was after his father returned he saw very few monks. During this time Hildir continued Berduta's education, adding blacksmithing to the curriculum. The child had shown some talent with a blade, but as Hildir often said, "No man should wield a sword he cannot create or mend." Things were going well for the youth, by his own measure. Then in his fifteenth year the Garlean Empire found its way into Ala Mhigo's borders. Due to unrest caused some years prior that had not been resolved, the take over was swift and the city-state of Ala Mhigo fell under Empire control. Many had talked about it, many bawked at it, even still many more did not fear for their homeland when Garlemald took the lands of Doma just a few years prior.
 
When the Empire marched Hildir was one of the first to fall, leaving Berduta an orphan. Due to his father's reputation he found friends among the Ala Mhigan loyalists who were trying to survive under Garlean rule. Once he reached his twenty-third year he had signed on with a resistance movement to take back his homeland. The leadership was lacking and the unit was unorganized. Berduta eventually suffered serious injuries during a skirmish and was left to be found by C'migli , a Miqo'te with skill in conjurations magics. It took nearly a year for him to recover and in the time the two became close, as one would expect. Eventually he had to bid his farewells and return to what he considered his duty. It would be the last time Berduta and C'migli would see each other as the Empire would make sure work of her small village in their quest to drive obedience, and she was the rebellious type.
 
When he returned, he was able to find what was left of his former unit and step back into the resistance movement. During his twenty fifth year he came across a highlander woman named, Martine Hornblade. She was a heart woman with long golden hair, though what Berduta may have found more appealing was her martial prowess. Her weapon of preference was a large battleaxe, and she was known for cleaving her foes before they ever came close enough to cause her harm. The two would eventually be bound together and leave their current unit. The leadership was becoming reckless as it was driving toward a singular goal without much thought about the casualties. It wouldn't be the end for the pair of them, however, Berduta had made a few allies during his time there and they would break away only to begin their own movement. 
 
He decided to handle how he would resist the Empire differently. Instead of attempting to fight full scale battles against a much larger foe, he decided on launching quick attacks on Garlean supply caravans. It proved useful, and what supplies survived he would distribute to those who were in need. A cave in Dimwold was chosen as a base of operations. The fogs of that swamp would provide the cover his movement needed to remain unseen, and the locals consisted of more loyal Ala Mhigans, which was becoming difficult to find. These attacks went on for three years; three years without a substantial loss. That came to an abrupt end when the Empire discovered where the operation was housed. They attacked the cave, which had no secondary exit, with their magitek and infantry. Most of Berduta's force did not survive, including Martine. Those who did, Berduta and five other men, were taken into Garlean custody and sent to the labor camps. Three of the men didn't survive the trip to the frozen North.